Doris Secures Spot in Ireland Selection But Joe McCarthy Omitted

Returning head coach the Ireland coach has named skipper Doris in his Ireland team for the autumn matches, but Joe McCarthy has been excluded.

The captain, absent from play since undergoing a shoulder operation in the start of May, recently returned to Leinster training, with doubts lingering whether he will be fit to play against New Zealand in the US on 1 November.

Lock McCarthy, however, did not make the cut after failing to recover from the foot issue he sustained during the first Lions Test against the Wallabies in the summer.

Northern province player Izuchukwu and Munster winger Calvin Nash are also absent because of fitness concerns, and number 15 Hugo Keenan was previously excluded after having a hip operation following the Lions tour.

Dublin province forward McCarthy - the brother of Joe - is the only new player in the 34-man group, but the Irish Rugby Football Union states uncapped Munster duo Edwin Edogbo and Gleeson and once-capped western province winger Shayne Bolton will head to Chicago as "cover".

After playing the New Zealand at Soldier Field in a rematch of their 2016 meeting, Ireland host the Brave Blossoms, the Wallabies and world champions South Africa in Dublin.

"There's an exciting look to the panel and there's an opportunity for the more experienced members and for those who made their debuts on the recent tour to the Lelos and Portugal," commented the coach, who returns to national team duties after taking a sabbatical to lead the British and Irish Lions to the southern hemisphere.

In a largely familiar-looking selection, Leinster's Sam Prendergast and the southern club's Jack Crowley will again compete for the first-choice number 10 spot. The fly-half role is still up for grabs, with Prendergast and Crowley set to play against each other for the first time in Saturday's United Rugby Championship game at Croke Park.

Frawley is the third number 10 selected as the coach deciding not to selecting the province's Harry Byrne.

At number 9, the Ireland boss has picked Lions tourist Jamison Gibson-Park and Casey, who captained the national side to the summer international victories over the Lelos and Portugal. Additionally, there is a return for the western province's Caolin Blade, who is preferred to club-mate Ben Murphy.

Henshaw, Aki, Ringrose and Stuart McCloskey represent an veteran cohort of centre options. Osborne is a further choice in the centres, but the 23-year-old is additionally a leading candidate to cover for Keenan at number 15.

Wingers Lowe, Hansen, O'Brien and Stockdale are included. The winger impressed on his national team debut over the summer with a brace each in the wins over Georgia and Portugal.

McCarthy is the only new addition in the Irish pack. The front rower has started two of his province's three league games this season and played in Ireland A's loss by England in Bristol earlier this year.

The 22-year-old was included in caretaker coach O'Connell's summer selection, yet did not earn a international appearance.

Southern province second row Thomas Ahern, who received his debut appearances in those matches, is retained, while veteran Northern province second row Henderson returns after missing the summer tour.

Conan, who played in each of the Lions Tests during the tour, is set to deputise for Doris should the captain fails to recover fitness soon enough to play New Zealand.

The Ireland squad will assemble in Dublin on the start of the week before traveling to Chicago on the following day.

Forwards (19): Ahern (Munster), Baird (Province), Bealham (Connacht), Tadhg Beirne (Munster), Boyle (Leinster), Clarkson (Leinster), Conan (Leinster), Caelan Doris (Leinster, captain), Tadhg Furlong (Leinster), Iain Henderson (Province), Ronan Kelleher (Province), G McCarthy (Province), P McCarthy (Leinster), Porter (Leinster), Cian Prendergast (Connacht), James Ryan (Province), Sheehan (Leinster), Timoney (Province), van der Flier (Province).

Backline (15): Bundee Aki (Connacht), Caolin Blade (Connacht), Casey (Province), Jack Crowley (Munster), Frawley (Leinster), Gibson-Park (Leinster), Hansen (Province), Robbie Henshaw (Province), James Lowe (Province), McCloskey (Ulster), O'Brien (Province), Osborne (Province), S Prendergast (Leinster), Garry Ringrose (Province), Stockdale (Ulster).

Kick-off times

• Ireland v the All Blacks, 1 November, Chicago (20:10)
• The side v the Brave Blossoms, 8 November, Dublin (12:40)
• The team v the Wallabies, 15 November, Dublin (20:10)
• The Irish v South Africa, 22 November, Aviva Stadium (17:40)